It may be a chilly spring here in Canada, but that doesn’t mean that warmer weather isn’t going to come down the pipeline! Etta is a pretty summer tank perfect for everyday wear. The subtle lace yoke makes is a simple charted stitch pattern that makes knitting this top in one piece a breeze. We sold a bunch of these kits last year and our clients were really happy with the results!
BTW, If you prefer a bit more coverage check out Etta’s cardigan-cousin Azzura …. or if you’re feeling a little preppy maybe make it a twin-set?
Yarn
Berroco Summer Sesame is a soft, light, and comfortable summer yarn with texture and colour. Its bright, happy shades of colors ebb and flow to make this self-striping worsted weight yarn a perfect summer choice. The cotton blend is light to the touch, breathable, easy to work with, and machine washable. It has a little bit of texture, making it easier to work with and also a bit more interesting than a smooth yarn. Summer Sesame is great sow tops & tees, tanks, sweaters, scarves, wraps, shawls, blankets, even socks!
Ezra is a simple little baby/toddler cardie that’s great for knitters new to making sweaters or anyone who just wants a simple knit. It’s worked from the top-down in one piece in garter stitch with a simple detail in the shoulder seam to make things a little interesting.
We used Berroco Pima Soft for its incredible softness, and its texture gives the garter stitch a slightly rustic feel. We used a 4mm/US6 needle (because that’s what I could find), but I think the project would knit up better on 3.75mm/US5, so that’s what I have listed below. More yarn options are listed below.
I know it’s only St Patrick’s Day, and it’s still snowing (but thankfully not sticking to the ground), but warm weather is just around the corner, and I think a healthy dose of cheer is in order this spring!
Berroco Pima Soft
If you’ve been in the store lately you’ve likely noticed the little sweaters all over the place. Those sweaters are my way of swatching and spending some time with a new yarn to see if it is store-worthy. It’s an interesting process, sometimes I’m underwhelmed by yarns I thought I’d love, and sometimes I find gems I never expected. Berroco Pima Soft is one of the gems.
Berroco Pima Soft is a new, CRAZY SOFT, 2-ply yarn made with 100% pima cotton. It’s slightly textured, making it much more forgiving to knit with than a smooth cotton (which also makes weaving in ends and finishing easier). It’s perfect for anything you want to make, from tees, tanks, sweaters, chemo-hats, babies, blankets, cushions – you name it. It’s a DK weight (21 to 22 sts/4″ on a 3.75mm/US5 to 4mm/US6 needle) so it isn’t too heavy for warm weather or if your internal thermostat runs warm. It’s lovely for crochet and knitting, and is just right for all climates! It’s great for knitting and crochet, and I think it would also make a nice texture in a punch needle project.
Designed with Berroco Pima Soft, this loose summer tee is a sampler of textured stitch patterns. Vincas features a boxy shape and slight drop shoulders. It is worked flat and seamed (the stitch patterns are written out, there are no charts).
Riviera is a cheerful, simple cotton tee with a lace lyoke. It’s worked from the top down, in the round, to underarms, then divided for body and sleeves. The body is worked in the round to lower edge (the lace yoke pattern is charted).
The Me Oh My Tee is your classic everyday t-shirt, but with an added cut-off, cropped element inspired by my best friend, Maiya, and her tendency to take scissors to all her favorite shirts. Knit from the bottom up at a fairly tight gauge and emulated set-in sleeves (it’s a seamless knit, no sewing), this tee will quickly get added to your go-to t-shirt rotation.
I figured we can all use something to look forward to, and the seasons’ changing is one of those things you can always bank on (at least in Canada – we have A LOT of weather). Anker’s Summer Shirt is a simple summer top, worked in one piece from the top down. The yoke is worked in sections of rib with increases in the round, followed by classic raglan increases when the stockinette stitch section begins. The sleeves are worked at the end, either on double-pointed needles or on circular needles using the Magic Loop technique. Anker’s Summer Shirt has no finishing other than weaving in ends.
Size
XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL
To fit a bust circumference of 80-85 (85-90) 90-95 (95-100) 100-110 (110-120) 120-130 cm [31½-33½ (33½-35½) 35½-37½ (37½-39¼) 39¼-43¼ (43¼-47¼) 47¼-51¼ inches].
Designed to have approx. 0-5 cm – [0-2 inches] – of positive ease, meaning it is designed to be 0-5 cm – [0-2 inches] larger in circumference than your widest upper body measurement.
We’ve cast on for this project in Berroco Pima Soft and it’s looking amazing! Worked entirely in garter stitch, Ezra is a basic top-down, seamless design is a welcome gift for any new parent. Customize the sleeve length to suit any season and choose from four sizes up to two years old. BT by Brooklyn Tweed patterns are skill-accessible knitting patterns written in a concise, visually appealing way. This pattern. is an great entry-point for knitting sweaters in the round. Ezra is a great entry point for anyone new to knitting sweaters or making them in the round from the top-down.
The pattern is worked from the bottom up in the round, beginning with the ribbed band before the lace pattern begins. If you prefer the ribbed band to be skintight, there is an option to add an elastic. The bralette is later separated for front/back, and the front bra cups worked separately. The straps are worked in an icord and later seamed to the back. Pattern includes photos on suggested placement for racerback straps, but they can be modified for straight straps.
My client Leesa brought me The Blanket of Joy, and as soon as I saw it I knew it was marvellous and needed to be shared! The world is so full of uncertainty right now, it’s more important than ever to choose carefully how we focus our energy. Like attracts like and like begets like, so I think something bright, happy, and full of joy is a good place to put our attention.
The Blanket of Joy is a simple knit, which is also important right now … Keep It Simple, am I right? Simple bands of colour are knit in offset segments of stocking and reverse stocking stitch to create an easy, graphic combination of colour and texture. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most brilliant! The pattern looks like it’s suitable for novices and experienced knitters alike. Need some help with weaving in the ends? Check our our Skills Page!
Yarn
The project is a “lets see if we can find a way to use every colour in the crayon box” type of experiment.
Option 1. I think BERROCO VINTAGE fits the bill perfectly – it’s soft, comfortable, affordable, machine washable, and comes in a slew of colours. You’ll need 1 skein in each of 22 colours, and I suggest using 4.5mm/US7 needles. If you’re using Vintage your tension will be slightly different (it will knit a bit faster) and you’ll have about 25% more yardage than in the pattern, so you should be able to get away with making your blanket a smidge wider.
Option 2. If you wanted to make a blanket that is smaller in budget I recommend using BERROCO VINTAGE BABY (get 1 ball of each of the 22 colours) with 4mm/US6 needles. The colours aren’t the same as the original pattern, so you’ll have to get a little creative shuffling them around, but the palette available is beautiful and complimentary, all the colours work together. The yarn is super soft and easy to work with, it’s machine washable, and at $4.97 a ball it makes for an affordable project.
In the book Joyful, Ingrid Fetel Lee talks about the revitalization of the run-down, crime-ridden city of Tirana, Albania … which was initiated with the very easy and affordable approach of painting buildings bright colours. I’ll leave the details for you to read up on (the book was really good), but if painting a run-down building bright orange can initiate the transformation of a city, maybe it’s not too far a stretch to posit that a joyfully coloured blanket can initiate positive change in a life?
P.S.
Thank you for your support following our COVID Policy update yesterday. At last check, I’ve received at least 16 replies, all of them positive. I’m glad we’re on the same page … you made my heart grow two sizes this afternoon!
It’s still cold outside, but spring is just around the corner, and I think we can all use some inspiration for change right now! I think we can also use some colour in our lives to help lift our spirits and keep us on a positive track (it’s a real thing, I read it in the book Joyful). This season has lots of colour and so much texture (which is great because textured yarns are a bit easier to work with). I’m really looking forward to seeing what we all dream up!
Azzurra Kits
Azzurra is a cardigan version of last year’s popular tee pattern, Etta, featuring a subtle lace yoke and a cropped body. It’s perfect for laying over dresses and summer skirts, or and a great little something to pop on at the office (when we get back there) or going out to dinner. It’s knit from the top down in one piece, and the yoke section has written instructions as well as a chart.
The Yarn
Berroco Summer Sesame is a soft, light, and comfortable summer yarn with texture and colour. Its bright, happy shades of colors ebb and flow to make this self-striping worsted weight yarn a perfect summer choice. The cotton blend is light to the touch, breathable, easy to work with, and machine washable. It has a little bit of texture, making it easier to work with and also a bit more interesting than a smooth yarn. Summer Sesame is great sow tops & tees, tanks, sweaters, scarves, wraps, shawls, blankets, even socks!
Size
Bust: (32½, 36½, 40½) [44½, 48½, 52½, 56½] {60½, 64½, 68½}” / (82.5, 92.5, 103) [113, 123, 133.5, 143.5] {153.5, 164, 174} cm (not including front band)
These kits are a special-order but we are stocking this yarn in the store on a regular basis through the spring and summer – you have the option to order it any time (it will be available to purchase as long as the manufacturer makes it available to us). Your kit will ship or be available for pick-up once it arrives, and we will contact you. If you need your kit for a specific date please let us know and we can find out if it’s feasible.
Berroco just launched an adorable new capsule collection of vintage & retro-inspired designs, the Vintage Baby Collection. The collection features 6 sweet designs made with the poplar Berroco Vintage Baby, a soft hand, washable, and affordable yarn. If you like the other yarns in Berroco’s Vintage family, then Vintage Baby will please.
Berroco Vintage Baby
Berroco Vintage Baby features an even softer blend of machine washable fibers than the other yarns in the Vintage line, in a DK weight. The two-ply yarn has a slight sheen and is perfect for all your projects that need a gentle touch. It comes in a smaller, 50g ball and lots of baby-happy colours. It’s great for just about everything: babies, kids, men, blankets, hats, afghans, socks, etc. It’s soft, easy to work with and comes in a spectrum of great colours – great for colourwork! It’s a blend of wool and high-end synthetic fibres, but it isn’t shiny (or squeaky), and doesn’t feel acrylicy. This yarn is also available in a DK weight, Berroco Vintage DK , a worsted weight, Berroco Vintage, and a chunky/bulky weight Berroco Vintage Chunky.
Harper the Elephant – the newest member of the stuffy family! Harper is a darling elephant ready to take on the days events! Pattern includes sweater for Harper.
Size
Approximately 12″ / 30.5 cm long x 9″ / 23 cm around body
Materials
Berroco Vintage Baby(50 grs): 2 balls #10023 Orange (C1) for elephant and 1 ball #10006 Ballet Pink (C2) for sweater
Ray Bonnet is a simple and darling striped bonnet with contrasting pom-pom. Ray Socks are a simple and quick baby socks pattern worked from cuff to toe, with two cuff options. You won’t be able to make just one pair!
Size
Bonnet: Approximately 8″ / 20.5 cm around neck edge x 12″ / 30.5 cm across (measured from one neck edge, across head, to the other neck edge).
Socks: Approximately 4″ / 10 cm around leg and foot x 4″ / 10 cm long (foot)
Sized to fit approximately 3–6 months.
Materials
BONNET – Berroco Vintage Baby(50 grs): 1 ball each #10071 Pepper (C1), #10002 Pearl (C2), and #10020 Sunflower (C3)
SOCKS – Berroco Vintage Baby(50 grs): 1 ball (Version 1 shown in #10002 Pearl, Version 2 shown in #10006 Ballet Pink, #10021 Turquoise, and #10023 Orange)
Approximately 37” / 94 cm wide x 44” / 112 cm long
1 square = 7” x 7” / 18 cm x 18 cm
Materials
Berroco Vintage Baby(50 grs): 1 ball each #10020 Sunflower (C1) and #10023 Orange (C2), 3 balls #10005 Haze (C3), 2 balls each #10002 Pearl (C4) and #10021 Turquoise (C5), and 4 balls #10035 Navy (C6)
Colors flow from stripe to stripe in this ombré mosaic stitch blanket. Made in crib size for perfect snuggle. For throw size, see the Fern Lake blanket.
I love how a simple one row chevron lace repeat can look in a fun stripe pattern in Baby Eden. Made in a crib size. For throw size see the Eden Blanket.
The following two projects were so beautiful that I wanted to share them. These easy projects feature a simple, top-down construction in the round for minimal finishing. They have a lovely depth of colour and texture, created by working with 2 strands of yarn held together (don’t worry, its easy). One is a hand-painted Peruvian wool, the other a light, lace-weight blend of kid-mohair & silk. The combination is stunning, the two yarns blend together so gracefully that they look like they were made for each other. The thicker yarn provides the main colour palette and the mohair delicately colours in the back-ground. I sat down with the shade cards, comparing colours to figure out which colours work best together, so you don’t have to worry about what goes with what. I put together a bunch of options, but my favourite colour combinations are the ones where the mohair picks up the most dominant colour in the hand-painted yarn.
The Yarns
Berroco Ultra Wool Handpaint is a classic worsted weight, 100% Superwash Peruvian wool. Ultra Wool Handpaint is hand-dyed using a watercolor brush technique. The result is the machine-washable wool you love with speckled colors throughout. We recommend alternating skeins to get a cohesive overall look as each skein is unique. Use it along with our Ultra Wool for unlimited combinations. 100% Superwash Wool, 100g/200m (219 yds), made in Peru.
Berroco Aerialis an airy and light blend of mohair and silk. It’s a perfect yarn to carry along with any one of our work-horse yarns to give a soft halo to any project. 65% Superkid Mohair, 35% Silk, 25g/260m (284 yds). Hand-wash in cold water, lay flat to dry.
PRE-ORDER
These kits as a special-order and we aren’t stocking them in the store on a regular basis, although you have the option to order it any time (it will be available to purchase as long as the manufacturer makes it available to us). Your kit will ship or be available for pick-up once it arrives, and we will contact you. If you need your kit for a specific date please let us know and we can find out if it’s feasible. It may take two to three weeks to get your kit, or less time, depending on when our next order is shipping.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a classic oversized, simple circular yoke pullover combining Berroco Ultra Wool Handpaint and Berroco Aerialfor an allover dreamy look. This easy project creates depth of colour and texture by working with 2 strands of yarn held together (don’t worry, it’s not hard). Turmeric is worked in one piece in the round, from the top-down.
Gauge: 17 sts and 26 rows = 4″ / 10 cm in Stockinette stitch on larger needles with C1 and C2 held together
Rooibos
Rooibos is a classic and easy-to-wear raglan using Berroco Ultra Wool Handpaint and Berroco Aerial. This easy project creates depth of colour and texture by working with 2 strands of yarn held together (don’t worry, it’s not hard). Rooibos is worked in one piece in the round, from the top-down.
When it comes to gifting socks for the holidays, I have a few key elements that are on my must-have list:
They must be soft and comfortable – if nobody wants to wear them then what’s the point in making them?
They must be machine washable AND stand up to wear. Once they leave the wrapping paper these socks are in the wild, they must be able to defend themselves!
They need to be pretty, or interesting, or have something unique about them. Complicated is definitely not necessary, but some kind of design feature should be present to create a bit of a WOW factor.
It can’t take forever to make them …. the thinnest yarn I want is a DK weight. House socks are a perfectly legitimate holiday gift, especially for wearing around the house during the holidays.
Berroco’s Vintage line of yarns is ideal for just such a purpose. They’re all super soft, machine washable, made with nylon so your socks will wear well, come in a bunch of pretty colours, and come in DK, Worsted and Chunky/Bulky weights, and they’re all affordably priced, so you’ll still be able to afford to go discount hunting after the holidays.
When doing a K2P2 rib (also known as a 2×2 rib) always go down a full mm in size. 2×2 rib is looser that stocking stitch and you need the smaller needlet to get the proper tension.
K1P1 rib (1×1 rib) is naturally nighter than the 2×2, and you don’t need to go down as much to get the right tension (half a mm is fine).
AYLA uses Berroco Vintage Chunky to quickly whip up a fast, super pretty pair of house socks. These socks are knit from the top down with a simple cable repeat worked on the front and top of the foot, as well as the back above the heel flap. The instructions are for two circular needles (see tuturial working in the round on 2 circular needles), but you can use any sock knititng technique you prefer. with a simple cable repeat worked on the front and top of the foot, as well as the back above the heel flap.
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Cable knitting is super simple, don’t let it intimidate you, you’ll love it!
Size
Approximately 8″ around leg and foot x 10″ from top edge to top of heel
KEEL are classic boot socks for men that work up quickly in Berroco Vintage DK. They feature contrast stripes on the toes and cuff. They’re made with a traditional top-down construction with a heel flap.
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Size
Approximately 10″ around x 8″ to top of heel flap
Materials
Berroco Vintage DK: 2 skeins, 1 in each of 2 colours (shown in 2107 Cracked Pepper and 2134 Sour Cherry )
Tin Can Knits make great patterns that are clear, easy to follow, and always come in a range of sizes for the whole family. These simple boot socks are sure to please everyone!
These socks are super cute and show how a simple, vanilla sock can come to life with a few extra colours thrown in. Berroco Vintage Baby in smaller 50g skeins, which are super convenient when you want to introduce extra colour to your project. It also comes in a palette of bright, pretty colours, perfect for happy colour blocked socks!
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner
Size
22.5 (24, 25) cm long (Or whatever length you like)!
These unisex socks make a great gift – in darker colours they’re handsome, in brighter colours they’re pretty! They’re a classic top-down heelp-flap construction with a simple and sweet fair isle design.
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Size
Small (Medium, Large)
Materials
Berroco Vintage: 2 skeins in main colour, 1 skein in each of 2 contrast colours
So it’s time to come clean … I’ve always wanted a pair of candy cane socks. Barber-pole stripes are my favourite christmas aesthetic. The pattern is designed as tube socks, but it’s easy to add an afterthought heel.
Skill Level
Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Size
Women’s sizes Small (Medium, Large)
7 (8.25, 9.5) inches in circumference, unstretched
8 .5 (10, 11.5) inches in circumference, comfortably stretched
14 (15, 16) inches long
When you’re deciding which size to make, consider getting the sock over your heel. That is the widest part of the journey, and these socks are not super stretchy! The size shown in these pictures is a Small.
Cold feet? These bulky slipper socks are just the ticket to keep your feet warm all winter. They also knit up quickly, and therefore make good holiday gifts. Even if you’ve never knit socks before, the bulky yarn makes these toe-up socks easy, and will teach you the skills necessary to knit other toe-up socks patterns. The pattern includes links to a four-part video tutorial.
The Chiara Kit Pre-Orders we placed a little while ago came in, and they were SO GORGEOUS that I figured I should give everyone another shot while the distributor has the yarn in stock (they sold out right away in August) and we are placing an order with them soon. The yarn, Berroco Dulce, is so soft and fluffy, it’s like baby duck-down! When I assembled the kits yesterday I was both very happy and sad to see them go … it was a beautifully conflicted state, hopefully one you will experience when you finish knitting your Chiara but get to start wearing it!
Chiara PRE-ORDER
Chiara is what the city mouse wore when she went to visit the country. It’s a traditional style colourwork pullover, worked from the top-down, but it’s made with a gorgeous Italian yarn. I like to think of it as “what would happen if Milan and Reykjavik had a baby?”. Rustic meets runway?
When I sampled Berroco’s new fall yarns for 2021 this one, Dulce, was the first I reached for. It’s soft and fuzzy and light and pretty, and I wanted to get my needles into it and see what it could do (see the results below). It has a missoniesque quality that I love, with colours randomly peeping out here and there under a halo of brushed alpaca. I really like that the colours have depth and are a bit mottled (you can see if you take a closer look at the patterns designed in Dulce), but they’ll be consistent, and you DO NOT have to jump though any hoops to avoid colour pooling (my patience for hoops is definitely on the wane).
Anyway, the yarn is lovely, the pattern isn’t too involved (maybe a good foray into stranded colourwork, the yarn will be quite forgiving), and I think you’ll love the finished project, get a lot of compliments on it, and a few requests to make another.
PRE-ORDER NOTE
This yarn is a special PRE-ORDER and we aren’t carrying it or the kits in the store. See below for more details. The yarn mills still aren’t up and running at full capacity, international shipping is still lagging, and it’s going to be another hit-or-miss year in terms of availability from distributors. If you want something in a particular colour I suggest you order early, shipments are already backed up.
These kits are a SPECIAL-ORDER – we aren’t stocking them in the store on a regular basis, but you have the option to order them at any time (it will be available to purchase as long as the manufacturer makes it available to us). Your kit will ship or be available for pick-up once it arrives, and we will contact you. If you need your kit for a specific date please let us know and we can find out if it’s feasible.
Our local knitting guild, The Needlework Guild of Canada, very graciously invited me to attend their first Knit in the Park, so I whipped up a little kit for them, a Pumpkin Beanie. I figured it’s timely, what with harvest season approaching. Plus, there is no child ever who isn’t ADORABLE in a pumpkin hat. Since our guild knits for charity I wanted it to be something that was gender neutral, and makes a great gift for anyone. I sized the hat from preemie to kids of all ages, and you should be able to get 2 pumpkin hats out of one kit (and probably a third green hat too). The yarn is the ever soft and Berroco Vintage, but if you want to upgrade go for the combo I assembled with Malabrigo Rios.
We wanted the skill level to be accessible to knitters in the beginner spectrum, so there isn’t any colourwork or charts, you just need the following skills:
Read a knitting pattern
Cast on & Bind off
Knit & Purl in the same row
Work in the round on circular & double pointed needles
Knit-o-Matic Yarns 